After nearly ten years of feeding good quality kibble to our dogs, we decided to switch them to a raw diet. Within two weeks we saw improvements. Within six months we observed the following:

• 80% smaller, firmer, stools, and what they produced did not smell; it simply crumbled and disappeared into the ground (and no more issues with "poop-eating" dogs!)
• no tartar or plaque on teeth
• our hypothyroid dog had a period of hyperthyroidism; as a result, his medication has been cut in half (.25mg/day)
• the dog formerly allergic to any and all beef/pork products can eat any beef or pork served to him (this is the dog whose ears would develop a ferocious yeast infection if he found a liver tidbit on the mats of a show ring)
• full, luxurious, shiny coats. There is a period at about three months into the raw diet where the dogs shed their "kibble coat". I suspect it's at this point that many people become convinced the diet is "ruining" their dog, but for those of us who wait, we are rewarded with coats no shampoos or conditioners can produce.
• no "dog breath"
• firmer, better muscled bodies
• a vitality in their overall appearance and outlook on life that's difficult to describe, but those who feed raw will know what I mean and, those who switch from kibble to raw, will see it for themselves

Along with raw feeding, we now follow a minimal vaccination protocol with all of our animals. We originally started feeding the diet suggested by Juliette de Bairacli Levy, then switched to a prey model diet, and are now feeding a combination that seems to work best for our dogs. We don't feed grains as often as suggested by Bairacli Levy, but are not strictly meat and bones as advocated by some of the other authors.

Sample Diet for the dogs at Northwood Kennels. Links to other sites with feeding and vaccination information are listed below.

Note: Raw feeding and minimal vaccinations is what we have chosen for our animals and the animals we produce. The information on our site, or the links to other sites, is in NO WAY intended to replace your own research and discussions with your veterinarian.

The Top 50 Most Frequently Asked BARF Questions Newcomers Ask!

Raw Meaty Bones (Tom Lonsdale, DVM)

BARF World (Ian Billinghurst, B.V.Sc [Hons], B.Sc. Agr., Dip.Ed.)

Immune System and Disease Resistance (Jean Dodds, DVM)

How Often Should My Dog Receive Vaccinations? What Vaccinations Should He Get? (Ron Hines, DVM, PhD)

A New Look at the Vaccine Question (Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD)